Ultra-slim Windows 10 notebooks, 13-inch convertible Chromebook, and first curved screen laptop launched by Acer
The Acer Chromebook R 13.
Acer has unveiled its new convertible Chromebook R 13, a laptop which can also be used as a tablet, as well as a new line of Windows 10 Swift notebooks and Spin convertible laptops with Intel's seventh generation Core processors.
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The company has launched the 13.3-inch Chromebook R 13, its follow-up to the smaller Chromebook R 11. The R 13 laptop has the same 360-degree hinge that allows the touchscreen display to be flipped back and used as a tablet, or propped up to view movies.
The Chromebook R 13 offers a full-HD display at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and is powered by a MediaTek quad-core processor, and has 4GB RAM. It features USB Type-C, USB 3.0, and HDMI ports, Bluetooth 4.0, and microphone and headphone jacks. According to Acer, the notebook weighs in at 1.49kg (3.28 pounds) and comes with a 12-hour battery life.
See CNET's Dan Ackerman's take on latest Acer devices
The device will be available with either 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB built-in storage and goes on sale in the US and Europe in October, priced from $399 and €399 respectively. It will also eventually support installing Android apps from the Google Play app store, according to Acer.
Acer also unveiled a clutch of new Windows 10 devices today, ahead of this week's IFA consumer electronics trade show in Berlin.
The Windows 10 machines include the Spin convertible series and the new ultra-thin Swift series notebooks, with both lines featuring Intel's new seventh generation 'Kaby Lake' core processors.
The 14-inch display Spin 7 notebook is the premier model in its Spin series, followed by the 13.3-inch display Spin 5, the 15.6-inch display Spin 3, and the Spin 1, which is targeted at students and is available in 13.3-inch and 11.6-inch display variants.
The Spin 7 features an aluminium unibody design and is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor, with up to 8GB RAM, and 256 GB solid state disk storage. It weighs 1.2 kg (2.6 pounds) with a width of 10.98mm (0.43 inches). It also includes two USB 3.1 Type-C ports.
The Spin 7 goes on sale in the US and Europe in October, with prices starting at $1,199 and €1,299 respectively.
The Spin 5 and Spin 3 will also be available in October in the US and Europe. The Spin 5 starts at $599 and €599, while the Spin 3 starts at $499 and €499 in each market. The Spin 1, meanwhile, will be available in the US by December starting at $249 and Europe in November, where it starts at €299.
The Swift 7.
Heading up Acer's ultra-slim lineup is the aluminium construction, black and gold Swift 7. It features a 13.3-inch full-HD IPS display and Intel 7th generation i5 processor, with a 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM. It boasts fast wireless and dual USB 3.1 Type-C ports.
Acer is promising nine hours of battery life for the device, which weighs 1.1kg (2.48 pounds) and has a height of 9.98mm (0.39 inches), making it the slimmest in the Swift series. It will be available in the US and Europe in October from $999 and €1,299 respectively.
The Swift 5 has a slightly larger 14-inch display and is 14.58mm (0.57 inches) thick, weighing 1.36kg (three pounds). It also features Intel's 7th generation processors, SSD storage in 256GB or 512GB variants, and 8GB RAM. Acer promises up to 13-hours battery life. The notebook will go on sale in the US and Europe in November from $749 and €749 respectively.
The lower-end Swift 3 goes on sale in the US and Europe in October starting at $499 and €499 respectively, while Swift 1 will be available in the US in November for $249 and October for Europe from €349.
For gamers, Acer also launched what it says is the world's first laptop with a curved screen. The monster Predator 21 X is a notebook with a 21-inch curved display utilising eye-tracking technology. The Windows 10 machine features Intel's seventh generation processor, two of Nvidia's GeForce GTX 1080 GPUs, and five cooling fans.
The Predator 21X.